Make the Kingdom Great, Again

Here in the U.S.A., we're rapidly approaching this year's elections, which includes choosing a new president.  It can't be over quickly enough - as much as I detest politicians, this years top two candidates for both parties are one of a kind.  And not in a positive way.  If you're unfamiliar with US politics - either because you don't live here or you do and you've buried your head in the sand - Donald Trump is running under the slogan, "Make America Great, Again" (or, perhaps, "Make 'Merica Great, Again").

Half a world away, today, the Pope officially canonized Mother Teresa, making her an official saint of the Catholic Church.  I'm not a catholic, nor do I buy into canonization and sainthood from that perspective, but I'm setting that aside for the moment.

I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this, but the contrast couldn't be greater.  One man, campaigning to run as president of what is one of the greatest countries in the world, at least in modern times if not in history, touts a model of greatest based on greed and self-promotion.  (By the way, if you think I say all this as a supporter of Hillary Clinton, you're wrong - I honestly don't know how to choose the lesser of two extremely bad choices this year).  On the other side of the world, whether I agree with the method of recognition or not, a woman is recognized for a life of self-emptying, sacrificial service to her community, her country, and the world.  Mother Teresa was known as the "Saint of the Gutters."

She experienced some fame in her life, but never capitalized on it.  She visited with presidents and other world leaders, she even received the Nobel Peace Prize.  And, yet, it is documented, she did not keep the $192,000 USD, instead asking that it be donated to the poor in India.  She embraced difficulty, hardship, and suffering.  She traveled, not for the adventure and fame, but for the opportunity to serve.  She stood firm in her beliefs, even those difficult and unpopular, like abortion and marriage.  At the time of her death, she was head of a missionary organization with over 4000 members operating in over a hundred countries - but she didn't make a six-figure salary like most chairmen of today's 501c(3) organizations.

The contrast is stark, between Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, etc., and a woman like Mother Teresa.  If the world spends five minutes today reading about her rather than our politicians, business leaders, entertainers, or athletes, then we are better off than we were yesterday.

It reminds me of a couple different teachings of Jesus:

• Luke 22:24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
• Luke 9:46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”

I don't know that we can find a better modern-day example of Jesus teaching than Mother Teresa.  Whatever my differences with her theological beliefs, her daily self-emptying, compassion, mercy, and love for people all over the world, reminds me what is important in God's Kingdom, my responsibility to my fellow man, and the kinds of people that need to be role models to me and to my children.

The Best Accusation Ever

Recently, studying in a Bible class centered around 1 Thessalonians, I was reminded of a verse in Acts 17.  That particular section of Acts focuses on the Apostle Paul's second journey, specifically his visits to Thessalonica and Berea.  In this context, Paul and Silas have just left Philippi where they were imprisoned, miraculously released, and then converted the Philippian jailer.  The go to Thessalonica, spend three weeks there, and then have to flee for their lives as the Jews of that time opposed them and incited the city to riot.   It's after Paul and Silas flee, and the crowd drags Jason into the court, that we find the best accusation ever:

And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” (Acts 17:6-17, ESV)

Is it just me, or is that not the best thing a Christian could ever be accused of: Turning the world upside down?!  It's what Christ designed his following to do - to be disruptive, to take what is expected and turn it into the unexpected.  Forgiveness, the Servant King, joy and victory when faced with persecution and death, the leader of kingdom enthroned on a cross, greatness by service?!  All totally unexpected, totally counter-culture.

Those of us who profess Christianity are called to live lives that run against everything the world stands for.  Greed, immorality, power, dishonesty, anger, sorrow, self-centeredness - we are called away from those things, and instead called to contentment, holiness, humility, honesty, peace, joy, compassion, and selflessness.  Not because we're better than anyone else.  Not because we deserve it.  Not because we have some innate quality that makes us that way.  And not because we've earned it.  Simply because we've accepted God's gift.

And, if we behave like that, if we behave in these ways that are so against the culture in which we live (which isn't all that much different from 50AD Thessalonica), we're going to be noticed - and hated.

And maybe, just maybe, we can be accused of the same thing: that WE turn the world upside down.